Sports

Vikings Roll Trenton in First Round of State Playoffs

South Brunswick High School football takes down former coach Tarig Holman in advancing to the semifinal round of Group 5 playoffs.

Facing a familiar foe on the opposite sideline to open the Group 5 state playoffs, the South Brunswick High School football team leaned on its powerful backfield for the spark to victory on Saturday.

The defending champion Vikings (6-3) overpowered Trenton (8-2) by a score of 28-8 in the opening round of the NJSIAA/Atlantic Health Central Jersey Group 5 playoffs, besting former head coach Tarig Holman, the current coach of Trenton. Holman lasted just one season at SBHS in 2009, finishing with a record of 3-7 before being replaced by Rick Mantz the following season, who led the program back to prosperity.

In besting Holman and Trenton, it was the three-pronged attack of quarterback Amir Johnson and running backs Dahrae Ford and Dontae Strickland who led the way, along with an opportunistic defense. Ford rushed for 102 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.

Strickland carried the ball 13 times for 80 yards and a touchdown, while Johnson collected 53 yards on 11 carries with one touchdown.

The Vikings collected two interceptions and a fumble recovery in keeping Trenton off the scoreboard until late in the 4th quarter sitting on a 28-0 lead. Leading the Vikings on both sides of the ball, Johnson snatched a 4th quarter interception that set up a 4-yard Aiden Burnett touchdown.

Marcus Jackson also intercepted a pass to setup Ford's second touchdown of the day.

The Vikings will return home for the semifinal round, as Hunterdon Central will visit SBHS on Friday at 7 p.m. The other side of the bracket will see Sayreville battle Manalapan, who South Brunswick defeated last year to win the first football state title in school history.


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